County officials question state's 'crazy' SunRail math

Tuesday

Jun 25, 2013 at 5:13 PMJun 25, 2013 at 7:17 PM

State documents suggest the county could be expected to pay more for the second phase of the SunRail commuter project — while getting less in return.

Volusia officials are alarmed over state documents that suggest the county could be expected to pay more for the second phase of the SunRail commuter project — while getting less in return. But state transportation officials are asking for patience as they continue working with the federal government, and the overall figures aren't much different than what the county first agreed to. "(We're) doing all we can to give the county what they want," Noranne Downs, District 5 secretary for the state Department of Transportation, said Tuesday. Documents sent to the Federal Transit Administration leave open the question of whether a DeLand station planned as part of the project's second phase would get the same level of service as the rest of the 61-mile commuter rail line linking Orlando with Volusia and Osceola counties. The paperwork also shows Volusia contributing nearly $3 million to the cost for the southern end of the second phase ending in Poinciana, while no other local group shares in the cost of the Volusia extension. "Good god, that's crazy," County Councilman Doug Daniels said when the news was shared at Thursday's council meeting. County Manager Jim Dinneen said if these terms had been part of the original SunRail agreement, "I do not believe the council (members at the time) would have voted for this project." Deputy County Manager Mary Anne Connors sent a letter to Downs asking for state officials to weigh in on the matter. "The concern is what's being discussed is not in the agreement with the county," Connors said Monday. But by late Tuesday, Downs said she had talked to county officials in an attempt to clear up some confusion. "I'm hoping we're on the same page now," she said. The paperwork at the root of the confusion is a development application sent in April to the Federal Transit Administration that details the "Phase 2 North" project, which would extend SunRail by 12 miles from DeBary to DeLand once the initial phase is complete. In the application, FDOT wrote that the state would look at whether the DeLand extension would receive the same service as other parts of SunRail — trains leaving every 30 minutes during peak times, every two hours during non-peak hours. The document also outlines the sources for capital funding in the project. Federal funds cover half of the $610 million capital costs, with the state paying 25 percent and the partnering local governments — Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties as well as the city of Orlando — paying the other 25 percent. Volusia's costs, according to the application, are $26.4 million, just under 5 percent of the total — which is consistent with totals Volusia agreed with when the deal was first approved. That includes $6.5 million during the first phase to help build track extending the line to DeBary. (By comparison, Seminole County pays $45.5 million during that phase.) But the application also shows Volusia contributing $2.85 million for the southern end of the second phase, which will take the project from Sand Lake Road to Poinciana. Federal Transit Administration documents also show Volusia County chipping in for that phase. Then, the application shows Volusia and the state would each contribute $16.95 million to be matched by federal money to pay for SunRail to extend from DeBary to DeLand. No other local government would be contributing to that phase of the project, according to the application. "This plan would have Volusia County paying for services (at the southern end) without benefit or reciprocal support (at the northern end)," Connors pointed out in her letter to FDOT. Downs said she was not familiar with the county's contribution to the Osceola County portion of the project, adding that "everybody is paying their fair share." She added once the federal government releases its criteria for projects that will be funded, the state would go back to the county presenting it with options for the DeLand extension. "I can't guarantee the federal money, but they want to help us get there," she said. Former County Chair Frank Bruno said he doesn't remember Volusia being a funding partner with the southern end of the project's second phase but added that everything about the project has been somewhat confusing. "It's been all over the map," said Bruno, who at one time was chairman of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission Governing Board formed to assist the state in the development of the SunRail system. Bruno likened the communication during the process to a game of "Telephone." "It's like one person telling one person a secret," he said. "By the time it gets to the 10th person, the information has changed." Connors said she hopes a conversation with FDOT officials will get everything worked out. "The certainty of the link from DeBary to DeLand has seemed muddy," she said. "We're not entirely clear as to where we are in terms of the commitment of funding to provide the system."

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